Chester, England
3008, 2012

Chester, England

Founded as a Roman fort in the first century, Chester, England now blends its historic atmosphere with modern attractions and luxuries. Nicknamed “the walled city” for the two miles of stone walls around it, Chester has made a conscious effort to preserve its heritage. History is reflected around every turn: in medieval buildings and cathedrals and in street names like “Eastgate” and “Foregate” that hark back to the city’s origins. A relatively recent addition to the city is the Eastgate Clock, built in 1899 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The second-most photographed clock in the United Kingdom (after Big Ben), the clock is a tourist attraction and a worthy complement to the Victorian-era timber-frame buildings

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Dallas, Texas
2708, 2012

Dallas, Texas

Founded in 1841, Dallas, Texas has a tradition of entrepreneurs and big business. The first western settler, John Neely Bryan, chose the Dallas area as a spot for a trading post, selling to American Indians and other settlers. Later, farming, ranching, and oil industries swelled the town’s population through the early part of the 20th century. Today, Dallas is a business capital with an emphasis on banking, communications, technology, health care, and logistics. Two of the world’s most profitable companies, AT&T and Exxon Mobil, are headquartered in the city. This eScapes scene features a look at the Dallas skyline and views from downtown’s Dealey Plaza. Though best known for its notorious connection to the 1963 assassination

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<i>Lee A. Tregurtha</i> on Detroit River
2308, 2012

Lee A. Tregurtha on Detroit River

In addition to their loads, many Great Lakes freighters carry with them a small part of history, but few have as much history behind them as the ship now known as the Lee A. Tregurtha. Originally planned as the oil tanker Mobiloil, the onset on World War II prompted the U.S. Maritime Commission to take over the ship’s construction and it was soon commissioned into the U.S. Navy under the name USS Chiwawa. From 1942 through 1944, the Chiwawa served in the Atlantic Fleet, refueling vessels along the East Coast and sailing on convoys across the ocean. Eventually it joined the Pacific Fleet for the final months of the war and was decommissioned in May 1946.

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Skagway, Alaska
2008, 2012

Skagway, Alaska

Nicknamed the “Gateway to the Klondike,” Skagway, Alaska, was a gold rush boomtown at the end of the 19th century, after gold was found in the Yukon Territory. Situated at the head of a convenient path to the region, the town became Alaska’s first incorporated city and saw thousands of prospectors passing through on their journeys. The famous Jack London novel The Call of the Wild is set in Skagway at this time. Since the end of the gold rush, the population of Skagway has dwindled to less than a thousand, but the area retains a healthy tourism economy based on the town’s history and its cruise ship port, which accounts for three quarters of its

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Miami, Florida
1608, 2012

Miami, Florida

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 A tropical metropolis set beside the Atlantic Ocean, Miami is a destination for anyone looking for sunshine, entertainment, and culture. A quickly growing city with one of the most impressive skylines in the United States, Miami’s location has been instrumental to its success. With an ocean on one side of the city, and rich natural spaces on the other, Florida offers residents and visitors the best of urban and natural wonder. Miami is also home to great cultural diversity, particularly from Latin American immigrants. The mix of cultures in

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Marblehead Lighthouse
1308, 2012

Marblehead Lighthouse

Ohio’s Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie is the oldest and one of the most popular lighthouses on the Great Lakes. This lighthouse has been in continuous operation since 1822, and, like many, has undergone several transformations in its history. Visitors to the original lighthouse would have seen a rougher limestone tower, ten feet shorter, and a clear fresnel lens lit with a whale oil lantern. Today, a green lens sets the tower’s electric light apart from nearby air beacons. Now completely automated with modern technology, the light is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard and open to the public. Nearby, sightseers can also visit the stone home of the original lighthouse keeper, Benejah Wolcott, a Revolutionary

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Copper Harbor, Michigan
0908, 2012

Copper Harbor, Michigan

Situated at the northernmost tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Copper Harbor is a destination for anyone seeking great scenery and outdoor recreation, year-round. Settled as a successful copper mining town in the mid-1800s, Copper Harbor is home to the oldest lighthouse on Lake Superior, Copper Harbor Light, built in 1848. The harbor itself is also significant for its ferry route to Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park, an island 50 miles away. This eScapes video features a scenic view from a vantage point atop nearby Brockway Mountain. Here, sightseers can absorb a panoramic view of the harbor, the surrounding forests, and the buildings of downtown. Brian Hughes is a contemporary jazz guitarist. He has released several albums

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Zanzibar Sunrise
0608, 2012

Zanzibar Sunrise

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago just off the mainland of Tanzania, is known for its relaxed lifestyle, fabulous beaches and reefs, unique animals, and it’s largest export, fine spices. This tranquil scene brings you a sunrise from a quintessential Zanzibar beach. The palm-thatched umbrella on the beach demonstrates one of the many uses for the abundant coconut palm trees. Locals use the trees to their fullest potential, extracting building resources, foods, and drinks from them. Acoustic Alchemy is a smooth jazz group from London. Originally a duo of acoustic guitarists,

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The Toledo Zoo Aviary
0208, 2012

The Toledo Zoo Aviary

Founded in 1900, when its only exhibit was a single woodchuck, Ohio’s Toledo Zoo has come a long way to become a nationally recognized institution. Now home to over 9,000 animals from over 800 species, the Toledo Zoo not only promotes family fun, but the conservation of the natural world. One of the oldest buildings at the Toledo Zoo, built during the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, is the award-winning Aviary. The Aviary was remodeled in 1998 to include walk-through exhibits and new interpretive areas, some of which can be seen in this eScapes video. Joe McBride is a smooth jazz pianist and singer. A Missouri native, McBride released his debut album in 1992 and has also

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Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park
3107, 2012

Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park

The most accessible mountain area in Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge offers spectacular views of the park and numerous hiking opportunities. Miles of forested land, rugged mountains, wildlife, and wildflower meadows greet park visitors year-round. Named “Hurricane Ridge” for its frequent strong wind gusts (over 75 miles an hour), this location receives up to 35 feet of snow each year. The weight of this snow discourages tree growth along much of the ridge, creating open meadows and bare slopes like those seen in this sample video. During the winter, the road to Hurricane Ridge mostly remains open, though often threatened by the risk of avalanches. Ski and snowshoe rental is offered at the ridge’s visitor center.

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